Is Mactel bad for desktop Linux?

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: PHIL HOCHMUTH ON LINUX
06/13/05
Today's focus: Is Mactel bad for desktop Linux?

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* Mac on Intel could be bad sign for Linux
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Today's focus: Is Mactel bad for desktop Linux?

By Phil Hochmuth

Apple rocked the PC industry with news of its move from
PowerPC-based CPUs to Intel. While the idea of Mactel has
sparked mixed feelings among the Macintosh faithful, one
industry watcher says the announcement could ultimately be a bad
sign for Linux's fledgling move towards broader desktop adoption
- especially among corporate PC users.

"Apple's operating system works very well and is known widely,"
says Gary Hein, an analyst with the Burton Group. "It has the
same power of Unix underneath, and it can run Microsoft Office
natively." Linux PC users must run Office alternatives, such as
OpenOffice.org, or use third-party plug-in software that allow
Windows apps to run on Linux.

The fact that a Macintosh PC might soon run on lower-cost Intel
chips and commodity hardware could draw those considering
Microsoft alternatives on the desktop to look more closely at
Apple instead of Linux. However, Hein says, many companies that
begin exploring migrations off of Windows PCs often don't follow
through.

"Everybody is investigating alternatives to Microsoft but no
one's really moving. Some do in order to get more life out of
old hardware. For others, it's a licensing, or it's based on
anti-Microsoft emotions," Hein says.

Whether Apple's move to Intel will take away market share from
Windows, or marginalize Linux on the desktop remains to be seen.

"It's hard to say one will hurt the other when neither
[operating system] has much traction," on corporate desktops.
"They're both kind of fighting for crumbs," Hein says.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Fedora Linux set for upgrade
Network World, 06/13/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux2533
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To contact: Phil Hochmuth

Phil Hochmuth is a Network World Senior Editor and a former
systems integrator. You can reach him at
<mailto:phochmut@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Concord Communications
Network World Executive Guide: The Evolution of Management
Technologies

Network and systems technologies have an important new role -
helping networked systems live up to new business realities.
With growing and shifting demands, network executives are
balancing business goals with prioritizing IT projects. Read
about the 'Future of Management', 'IT Service Management',
'Managing Security', and 'Best Practices'.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106653
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